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2026 Kia Seltos

What real owners wish they knew before buying

27

Issues Found

7

Categories Affected

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The 2026 Kia Seltos is a subcompact crossover SUV with a five-door body style. It competes with models such as the Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, and Chevrolet Trax. The 2026 model carries over from 2025 with the addition of a front-wheel-drive LX base trim, which lowers the starting price, and the discontinuation of the X-Line trim. The standard powertrain on LX, S, and EX trims consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is optional. The SX trim uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine making 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and standard all-wheel drive.

The infotainment system includes an 8-inch touchscreen on the LX trim and a 10.25-inch touchscreen on S and higher trims, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard—wireless versions on EX and SX. Navigation is available on the 10.25-inch screens of EX and SX trims, along with SiriusXM radio and multiple USB-C ports. EX and SX trims feature dual 10.25-inch panoramic displays for the gauge cluster and infotainment screen. The SX trim has a Bose premium audio system with eight speakers, and wireless charging is available on select higher trims. Kia Connect provides remote engine start, climate control, vehicle location, and Digital Key sharing via the app, with over-the-air updates for infotainment and other systems.

What You're Really Signing Up For

  • Collects ultra-sensitive personal data like location and voice without easy opt-out.
  • Sells your data and shares it with undisclosed third parties.
  • Tracks vehicle details extensively, including prior owner access risks.
  • Limited ability to delete collected data once it's gathered.
  • Exposes remote hack vulnerabilities through connected services.

Top Reported Issues

The most frequently mentioned problems by owners

Privacy & Surveillance3 mentions

Collects ultra-sensitive data

Kia Connect privacy policy discloses collection of some sensitive personal information such as preci...

Full details with sources in report
Privacy & Surveillance2 mentions

Sells personal data

Kia sells collected personal and vehicle data to third parties, including data obtained from affilia...

Full details with sources in report
Electronic Alerts & Nags2 mentions

Persistent take a break alerts

The Kia Seltos has a driver fatigue monitoring feature called 'Take a Break' that displays warnings ...

Full details with sources in report
Privacy & Surveillance2 mentions

Undisclosed third-party sharing

Kia Connected Services share user data with unspecified third-party providers, affiliates, data brok...

Full details with sources in report

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the 2026 Kia Seltos

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